Sanders Won the Union Scorecard That Mattered [View all]

[applegrove]

Sanders Won the Union Scorecard That MatteredDespite labor leaders’ warnings, rank and file members lined up Bernie in Nevada.

By JEREMY STAHL at Slate

FEB 22, 20206:58 PM

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/02/bernie-sanders-won-the-union-vote-in-nevada.html

"SNIP.....

In the final two weeks before Saturday’s Democratic caucuses in Nevada, the political discussion—including part of the nationally televised presidential debate—revolved aroundunion members and what they wanted. The powerful Culinary Union Local 226 had warned its membership that Medicare for All, as championed by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, would jeopardize their hard-won health benefits. Here was the long-running Democratic argument over whether universal health care should replace existing benefits, played out in direct and particular terms.

And on Saturday at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino caucus site, there were the union members, wearing their work uniforms—many of them accessorized, despite the leadership’s message, with “Unidos Con Sanders” stickers.

Monica Smith, a union member who said she had supported Hillary Clinton both in the 2008 and in 2016 caucuses, said she was supporting Sanders now because of his health care position, not in spite of it.

“I am now a Bernie Sanders individual,” Smith said, “because I believe—number one—he is experienced and—number two—everything he talks about for health care, I believe in.”

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